Relaxing Vacation

Campfire

  Ariel sat her glass of vodka down on the little table next to her. She didn't really drink much, because she just didn't really have the time anymore. For Ariel college and drinking just didn't mix well. There were no benefits for her, it only made things more difficult.

Her eyes glazed over as she watched the sparks from the fire dance in the air. They swung around each other, and every once  in a while would teasingly brush against their desired partner.
There were times when two unhappy partners clashed together and the fire spit more sparks. However, these sparks were more like hatred for one another instead of dancing lovers.

"Ariel!"

Ariel jolted awake from her daydreaming and quickly looked over at her friend. Melanie seemed very concerned from what Ariel could make out in the dim moonlight.

"You have been a little odd lately. Is everything okay?"

Ariel's gaze was steadily drawn back to the dancing lovers. Should she really tell, Melanie? Deep down she knows it would be the right thing to do, but her friend is supposed to be having a good time, and she is spoiling it.

"Melanie, you really do worry to much about me. Everything is fine. Relax and have fun, this is your time off after all. You should be enjoying it."

Melanie stared at Ariel as she spoke while listening closely. Near the end, a grin replaced her concerned look.

"You're right, Ariel. I'm sorry if I'm troubling you with all my questions lately. I really don't mean to cause you any discomfort. Why don't we go inside and play some twister?"

Ariel jumped up and attached herself to her best friend in a flurry of excitement. Ariel soon detached herself and ran towards the house, Melanie behind her the entire time. She turned towards Melanie and grinned at her creepily.

"You're going to lose!"

Melanie scoffed, "You wish."
Melanie chuckled and grinned as well, flipping her hair arrogantly on the way past her to get Twister.

Moments later Ariel found herself bent over with Melanie under her ruining Ariel's eardrums with her frustration.

"Are you serious!" Melanie screamed as she fell and slammed her shoulder onto the floor.

Melanie got up from the floor, and walked to the kitchen yelling about how much she hated that game and what she plans to do to it later. Ariel watched her friend come back out with a bag of ice on her shoulder.

"Does it hurt that bad?" Ariel questions her friend who winced when the cold became to much for her sore shoulder. Melanie pulled the bag of ice off and set it down on the carpet next to Ariel.

"Nothing hospital worthy," Melanie grinned reassuringly, "just a slight ache."

Melanie sat next to Ariel a moment later, lowering her self carefully in precaution, as she didn't want to hurt herself even more.

"I still can't believe I lost," Melanie glared at Ariel as she spoke.
"I can!" Ariel said laughing as she jumped up and ran into the bedroom, leaving her baffled friend behind.

Melanie soon followed a second later. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean!"

Melanie skid to a stop next to Ariel at the foot of the bed in the room Ariel was staying in. There on the wall, were fifteen pictures of Ariel sleeping, hanging out with Melanie at the campfire, and the girls playing twister. Ariel was terrified of course, but not nearly as shocked or scared as Melanie.
Melanie pulled a picture of them playing Twister off the wall.
The picture gave a clear view of what was happening before  Melanie fell and lost the game.

Whomever this person was, had been inside the cottage. Melanie froze moments later once she realized that the person is probably still inside as well. Ariel was already a step ahead of Melanie, because she had slammed the door shut and locked it way before Melanie came to that realization. Ariel pulled out her cellphone that she always carried with her, and called the cops. Ariel has done this a million times, but maybe this time the cops in her small town might actually do something instead of wait around for her to get stabbed, or worse.

Ariel pulled Melanie down onto the bed with her as she spoke to another police officer. She said what she needed to and then hung up. Ariel was mostly only doing this for Melanie, but another small part of her did for herself to.

"Melanie?" Ariel whispered pulling her friend onto her chest, and laying down so that Melanie was sprawled across her petite body. "The cops are going to be here soon, and then I will explain everything once they leave. Nod if you are fine with that." Melanie nodded, and Ariel's shirt lifted slightly from the movement.

Ariel sighed softly when she felt the tears from Melanie's shock  rub into her smooth skin. She squeezed Melanie tighter, and shushed her comfortingly when Melanie's hiccups and tiny sobs caressed her ears every few minutes.